Machine for shaping the rear portions of shoe-uppers.



F. RICKSJ MACHINE FOR SHAPING TH-E REAR PORTIONS 0F SHOE UPPERS.

- APPLICATION men MAR- 2, ms.

1,247,011. v PatentedNov. 20, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET F. Ricks.

I MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE REAR PORTIONS 0F SHOE UPPERS.

' mrrucmon FILED 14411.2. I915.

Patented Nov, 20,1917.

2 SHEET SSHEET 2.

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FRED RICKS, OF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOE TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COM- PANY, 0F PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE REAR PORTIONS OF SHOE- UPPERS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED RICKs, a subject of the King of England, residing at Leicester, Leicestershire, England, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Shaping the Rear Portions of Shoe-Uppers, of which the following description, inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for use in making boots and shoes and is herein shown as embodied in a machine for shaping the heel portions of shoe upper materials prior to the lasting operation on the shoe. As shown the machine comprises inner and outer molds or formers and heel seat wipers by means of which the heel seat edge line is established and the heel seat flange is formed preparatory to lasting. One important feature of this invention consists in improved means for gaging the position of the work with relation to said molds and wipers to obtain a correctly located heel seat edge line and a correct width of heel seat flange.

Another feature of the invention consists in novel means for resisting heel seat forming pressure upon an inside mold. In an advantageous arrangement of machine to which this feature of the invention is shown as applied, the inside mold is supported with its heel seat face upward by means which permits the upper to be placed upon the mold from below. This feature of the invention provides additional supporting means movable from a retracted position into position to form a rigid support in the line of thrust of compression upon the heel seat face of the mold. A further feature of the invention consists in automatic operating means for said additional supporting means.

Another feature of the invention consists in novel outside molds. Many shoe uppers are made with back seams which are sometimes pinched in the joint connecting the two jaws of outside molds. In the illustrated embodiment of this feature of the invention, the meeting edges of the inner faces of the jaws are located at one side of the middle of the heel.

Another feature of this invention consists in improved heel seat wipers. It has been Serial No. 11,537.

found that in inturning the heel seat flange the upper at the back seam has sometimes been bunched up to such an extent that as the wipers advance the seam has been opened or a piece has been sheared off by the wipers. In the illustrated embodiment of this feature of the invention a projection is formed on the wipers which presses the upper at the back seam against the heel seat face of the inner mold before the immediately adjacent portions of the upper on either side of the back seam are so pressed.

These and other features of the invention, including certain more important details of construction and combinations ofparts, will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings and will then be pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation of the forward portion of a heel end molding machine embodying this invention. The general organization of said machine and those portions of it which are not shown in these drawings may be ascertained from United States Letters Patent No. 1,156,897, granted October 19, 1915 upon the applica tion of Joseph Gouldbourn at al.

Fig. 2 is a view, looking in the direction of the arrow I in Fig. 1, of the work-engaging devices and the adjacent mechanism on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view, looking in the direction of the arrow II in Fig. 1, of the gage for the upper showing the relation of this gage to the inner mold;

. Figs. 5 to 7 are viewsillustrating, respectively, in plan, side elevation, and section on line 7-'-7 of Fig. 6, the forward part of theend wiper; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the interlocking outside former.

The machine illustrated in the drawings comprises a frame, a part of which is indicated at 1, having the usual operating mechanism and provided at the front of its upper part with forward extensions 19 that support a cross-beam 20 from which the in ner mold 25 is supported by a member 2% forming an extension of the inner mold projecting downward into the bottom opening of the upper, that is to say, the opening which, although shown uppermost in Fig. 1, is located at the bottom of the upper when the upper is the right way up. The outer Specification of Letters Patent. Pai qgntgd N 20, 1917, Application filed Mar-ch 2, 1915. I

arranged mold comprises two interlocking formers 26, 27 which at the commencement of the operation are open to receive the heel end of the upper to be molded. The frame also carries wipers 50, for wiping inwardly the upstanding port in of the margin of the upper at the heel to form the inturn ed flange and to H'SSS the latter down upon the inner mold. These parts may be constructed and as forth in said prior specification except in the particulars hereinafter pointed out. it has been found liiiicultto place the materials accurately upon the inner mold in the desired relation thereto, and when the machine is provided with wipe-rs, unless the right amount of margin is left projecting, a flange of incorrect width is formed.

it is an object of the present invention to overcome this difficulty, and accordingly there is provided an adjustable or other gaging member located, when in operat ve posi tion, in predetermined relation to one of the molding members and in p: ion to be engaged by the bottom edge of the upper. that is to say, the edge which is lowermost when the upper is the right way up.

Difficulty has also been experienced in locating the upper upon the mold with the back seam exactl in the middle of the rear portion of the mold. in order that the said gaging member may also serve as a back seam gage it is preferably disposed centrally with relation to the inner mold.

The is formed as a finger 5 projecting rearwardly from a supporting portion 6 which depends from an arm 8 that projects from the side of the machine over the middle of the inner mold 25. Passing through the finger 5 is a screw 10 adapted to contact with the heel seat face of the inner mold so that by adjusting this screw the distance of the finger from the inner mold may be altered and thus the gage can be set to vary the upper margin left upstanding. The finger 5 is located over the middle of the nold so that if the operator locates the upper upon the mold in such a manner that the back seam is directly under the finger, it will be in correct position.

The arm 8 is clamped by means of a bolt 12 upon a sleeve 86 mounted upon a rod 80 located in bearings 1d, 15 at the side of the machine. The sleeve sea itself fixer longitudinally between the bearings so that it has no longitudinal movement, but the rod 80 is adapted to slide longitudinally in the sleeve for a purpose which will appear. The sleeve has a cam groove 89 cut in it and into the groove projects a cam roll mounted upon the sliding rod 80, the shape of the cam groove being such that as the rod slides backwardly or forwardly, when near the limit of its backward movement, the arm and therefore the finger 5 will be raised or lowered respectively.

The rear end of the sliding rod 80 passes through a boss 16 formed on av bracket 18 rigid with the machine frame and is providcd with rack teeth engaging with a pin ion on a transverse shaft 81. A second pinion 82 upon this shaft engages with rack teeth formed on another rod 3%, one end of which is shown pivoted to a reciprocating wiper-carrying frame 55 which is adapted to advance over the mold :25, thereby causing the wipers to form the inturned flange and bringing them into position to compress the rid flange, in order to provide for the angular movement of the rod 34 during the reciprocation of the frame 55, it is mounted to slide in a journal 35 which is adapted to turn vithin the bracket 18 about the transverse shaft 81. The arrangement of the parts is such that as the wiper-carrying frame moves forwardly the arm 8 and therefore the linger or gage 5 will be moved upwardly out of the path of the f aims and that when the frame is retracted the linger will again be lowered into gaging position.

The inner mold is supported from above with its sole face uppermost and with a free space extending beneath the mold to the back of the heel so that the upper can be placed on the mold from below. If, as is customary, heavy pressure is exerted by the ipers downward upon the said sole face in compressing the inturned flange of the upper, the heel end of the inner mold is apt to be displaced below its proper position. To prevent this displacement, additional supporting means is provided which is movable from a retracted position giving access to the inner mold into position to form a rigid support in the line of thrust of com pression between the wipers and the inner mold. Pivoted between lugs on the front of the machine is a short post or strut 42 provided at its upper end with an adjusting member shown as a headed screw is. and lock nut, the position of which screw can be adjusted longitudinally of the post 42. A downward projection -15 from the inner mold is adapted to be engaged by the head of the screw 44, the post being positioned under the downward projection by an upwardly projecting lug or plate 46 fixed to the rearside of the post. For the purpose of sparing the operator of the ma chine the extra labor which would be required if the said supporting means were separately operated, it is preferred that connections be provided between these means and a part (hereinafter described as the starting treadle of the machine) adapted to be located out of its normal position dur ing the molding operation, whereby the said part acts, through the said connections, to

hold the additional supporting means in active position while the compression of the margin is taking place. As herein shown the post is held normally in toward the frame of the machine by a spring 48 as shown by broken lines in Fig. 1. The post is also connected through a second spring 56 and a rod 58 to the clutch treadle (Fig. 1) of the machine in such a way that the first movement of the treadle will move the post 42 into operative position underneath the projection 4:5 and will thereafter throw in the clutch to start the machine.

The outside formers 26, 27 are of improved construction. As shown, there are two formers which are divided mainly at a point opposite the back seam. In the pres ent instance, however, the former 26 is formed with an offset portion 28 projecting laterally past the back seam and toward the other former 27 which has a corresponding recess 29. vBy this means the line of division or joint between the formers, so far as it affects the upper, is moved to one side of the usual position of the back seam so that there will be much less tendency to pinch the upper between the formers than was formerly the case.

As has hereinbefore been pointed out, the bunching up of the upper during the formation of the inturned flange is liable to occur so that plaiting takes place at the mid line of the back of the upper and over the back seam, as this is most generally placed, when the wipers are constructed as has been usual, which plaiting sometimes results in a portion of the upper being sheared off. In the present machine the end wiper 51 is provided upon its under side with a projection 52 so located that in the forward movement of the end wiper it will engage the upper at the mid line and press it down upon the inner mold 25. This insures that the plaiting of the material shall occur on either side of the mid line, so that the thickness of the bunched up upper at this point shall be less than when plaiting occurred over the back seam, as it frequently did formerly.

Having explained the nature of this invention and fully described an illustrative embodiment thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A machine for shaping the rear portions of shoe upper materials having, in combination, an inner mold and an outer mold between which to shape the upper, and a gaging member located in predetermined relation to oneof the molds and in position to be engaged by the bottom edge of the upper, for the purpose described.

2. A machine for shaping the rear portions of shoe upper materials having, in combination, an inner mold and an outer and located in predetermined vertical relation to the heel seat face of that mold in position to be engaged by the bottom edge of the upper at the back'seam.

3. A machine for shaping the rear portions of shoe upper materials having, in combination, an inner mold and an outer mold between which to shape the upper, wipers arranged relatively to the molds to form the heel seat flange of the upper materials upon the inner mold, and a gage constructed and arranged relatively to said molds and wipers to be engaged by the bottom edge of the upper to determine the extent of marginal portion of upper material to be included in the flange. 4. A machine for shaping the rear portions of shoe upper materials having, in combination, an inner mold and an outer mold between which to shape the upper, wipers arranged relatively to the molds to form the heel seat flange of the upper ma terials upon the inner mold, a gage to aid in positioning the upper to present the right amount of margin above the molds for use in forming the heel seat flange, and mechani cal operating connections from the wipers to the gage for withdrawing the gage in advance of the wipers.

5. A machine for shaping the rear portions of shoe upper materials having, in combination, an inner mold and an outer mold between which to shape the upper, wipers arranged relatively to the molds to form the heel seat flange of the upper ma terials upon the inner mold, a frame carrying the wipers and adapted to overlie the inner mold when the wipers are in operative position, a gaging member to aid in positioning the bottom edge of the upper for the molds and wipers, and means operating automatically to cause the gaging member to occupy a retracted position while the wiper carrying frame is over the inner mold.

6. A machine for shaping the rear portions of shoe upper materials having, in combination,an inside former, height gage having a portion constructed and arranged to engage the heel seat face of the former and a portion constructed and arranged to be engaged by the bottom edge of the upper, and a pivotal support located at one lateral side of the former and relative to which said gage is mounted for movement from and toward the plane of the top face of the former.

7. A machine for shaping the rear portions. of shoe upper materials having, in

combination, an inner mold, heel seat wipers, supporting means for the mold arranged to allow an upper to'be placed on the mold fromrthe side remote from the wipers, means to operate the wipers to compress the heel seat flange of the upper upon the mold, and additional supporting means for the mold movable from a retracted position to give access to the mold into position to form a rigid resistance in the line of thrust of compression between the wipers and the mold.

8. A machine for shaping the rear portions of shoe upper materials having, in combination, an inner mold, heel seat wipers, supporting means for the mold arranged to allow an upper to be placed on the mold from the side remote from the wipers, means to operate the wipers to compress the heel seat flange of the upper upon the mold, and additional supporting means for the mold movable from a retracted position to give access to the mold into position to form a rigid resistance in the line of thrust of compression between the wipers and the mold, a starting treadle for the wiper operating means, and a connection controlled thereby for moving the additional supporting means into operative position in time to resist the wiper pressure.

9. A machine for working upon shoes, having, in combination, an inside former, means for "sustaining the former While the work is being prepared to be operated upon, means for operating on the Work, and additional supporting means movable into position to sustain the former while the work is being operated upon.

10. A machine for working upon shoes, having, in combination, an inside former, means arranged to act at one end of the former to uphold the work, means for operating on the work, and means movable into position under the former to afiord additional support to the former at the end thereof remote from the first-mentioned end.

11. A machine for working upon shoes, having, in combination, an inside former having supporting means extending forwardly and then upwardly to a higher plane to give clearance for the work, and a post arranged for movement to a position under the former after the work has been arranged on the former.

12. A machine for working upon shoes, having, in combination, an inside heel former, means for supporting the former from its front end, said former having an extension reaching below the leg portion of a shoe, and a post mounted for movement into supporting position under said extension.

13. A machine for working upon shoes, having, in combination, an inside heel former, means for supporting the former from its front end, a post mounted for movement into supporting position under the rear end of the former, and means for moving the post.

14. A machine for working upon shoes, having, in combination, an inside heel former, means for supporting the former from its front end, a post mounted for movement into supporting position under the rear end of the former, means for operating on work held by the former, a treadle to cause the operation 011 the shoe to be eifected, a yielding connection from the treadle to the post for moving the post into supporting relation with the former, and means to arrest the movement of the post in that relation.

15. A machine for working upon shoes, having, in combination, means for operating upon shoe stock, means relatively to which the stock is to be arranged in position to receive operation upon it, a support for the work occupying a position away from the work while the shoe stock is being arranged, a treadle to cause the operation on the work to be effected, and connections from the treadle to the work support to move the support into position to sustain the work before the operation on the work takes place.

16. A machine for working upon shoes, having, in combination, means for operating upon shoe stock, means relatively to which the stock is to be arranged in position to receive operation upon it, a post held normally away from the work, a treadle, a spring connecting the treadle to the post and arranged to move the post into position to support the work for the operation thereon, and additional connections from the treadle to cause the operating means to act on the shoe stock.

17. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, awork holder occupying a substantially constant position in the machine, means for operating on the work carried by the holder, and a support movable into position to sustain the work holder against the thrust of the means operating on the work.

18. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a Work holder occupying a substantially constant position in the machine, means for operating on the work carried by the holder, a support movable into position to sustain the work holder against the thrust of the means operating on the work, and means for moving the support into and out of work holder sustaining position as an incident to the control of the means for operating on the work.

19. A machine for shaping the rear portions of shoe upper materials, having, in combination, an inner mold, and an outer mold divided at the back of the heel into two relatively movable formers constructed and arranged with the line of division between acting faces of the two formers located at one side of the middle of the heel.

20. A machine for shaping the rear portions of shoe upper materials, having, in combination, an inner mold, and an outer mold divided at the back of the heel, the

main portion of the joint between the formers being located at the middle of the heel and one of said formers being provided on its acting face with a projection extending past the middle of the heel and adapted to move into a recess in the acting face of the other former during closing of the formers.

21. A machine for shaping the shoe upper materials of one end of a shoe, having, in combination, two formers jointed together to make an end embracing mold adapted to open and close, the acting face of one of the formers extending across the middle of the mold to locate the line of division between the formers at one side of the middle of the shoe end, and controlling mechanism for the formers.

22. A machine for shaping the upper materials of one end portion of a shoe, having, in combination, wipers constructed and arranged to turn inwardly the margin of the heel portion of the upper materials to produce a heel seat flange, a projection located on that part of the wipers which engages the mid line of the back of the upper and having an acting face extending below the laterally adjacent portions of the wipers to press the upper downwardly at the mid line before the portions of the upper on either side of the mid line are so pressed down, and operating mechanism for the wipers.

23. A machine for shaping the upper materials of one end portion of a shoe, having, in combination, wipers constructed and arranged to gather inwardly the margin of the end portion of the upper materials, means located to engage the upper materials at the middle of the end and spread the materials laterally apart to prevent plaiting of the upperover the middle of the end, and mechanism for operating the wipers.

24:. A machine for shaping the upper materials of one end portion of a shoe, having, in combination, wipers constructed and arranged to gather inwardly the margin of the end portion of the upper materials, said wipers including a member acting at the middle of the shoe end and having a backwardly beveled lower edge face and a projection from said beveled face extending below the laterally adjacent portions of said face, and operating mechanism for the wipers.

25. A machine for operating on the rear portions of shoe upper materials having, in

combination, an inside former over which an upper isto be adjusted for the operation, means cooperating therewith to effect the operation on the upper, and a gaging member movable automatically into and out of predetermined vertical relation to the heel seat face of the former in position to be engaged by the bottom edge of the rear end portion of the upper.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED RIOKS.

Witnesses FREDERICK WILLIAM WORTH, CECIL HERBERT CRoss.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

